Near-death experience as a catalyst for empathy
New research shows that out-of-body experiences (OBEs), including near-death experiences, enhance empathy and affect the way people communicate with each other. The researchers suggest this may be the result of “ego dissolution,” in which people lose their sense of self and feel deeply connected to the world around them.
The study delves into the mechanisms by which these experiences promote prosocial behaviors such as compassion, patience, and understanding. These findings open up possibilities for developing methods to enhance empathy, a critical trait in a fractured world.
Empathy and prosocial behavior
Researchers celebratethat out-of-body experiences can feel more real than reality itself, and that this sense of transcendental connectedness can later translate into “prosocial” behavior. I imagine that every reader has at least once in their life had dreams that felt incredibly realistic.
Empathy is the foundation of human interaction, allowing us to connect deeply with others, fostering trust and understanding. Exploring ways to improve and apply methods to increase empathy in people, whether through ego dissolution associated with OBE [внетелесным опытом]or other approaches, is an exciting direction with potentially profound implications for individuals and society as a whole.
Marina Weiler, a neuroscientist at the University of Virginia's Department of Perception Studies.
How Out-of-Body Experiences Affect Empathy
Weiler's paper explores the possibility that the dramatic increase in empathy seen in people who have had out-of-body experiences may be the result of “ego dissolution” — a loss of one's sense of self. In these cases, people feel as if they have been separated from their physical form and have literally “connected with the universe” on a deeper level.
Sometimes this is described as “ego death” or “ego loss,” this condition can be caused by near-death experiences, hallucinogenic drugs, holotropic breathing, and other causes. But people who experience it often report that their relationship to the world and their understanding of their place in it changes radically.
Detachment from the sensations of the physical body often results in a sense of increased connection with all aspects of life and a deeper emotional connection with others. These feelings of interconnectedness can persist beyond the experience itself, altering a person's perceptions and promoting increased empathy, thereby influencing interpersonal connections and harmony with the world.
From the research materials.
To the results of the study
Researchers note that out-of-body experiences can feel more real than our world, and this sense of transcendental connectedness can later translate into “prosocial” behavior. Respondents who have had such experiences often become more compassionate, more patient, more understanding.
More than half of the participants in one study described their relationships with others as more peaceful and harmonious. Most respondents also reported feeling a sense of increased “spirituality” and a heightened belief in the possibility of life after death. All of this was the result of a sense of “pure consciousness“.
What can be said in conclusion. There is a huge layer of materials explaining the cause of such states and the role of tryptamines in all this, starting from serotonin and ending with DMT. On the one hand, it is good that the nature of consciousness is being studied from different angles. On the other hand, one should not strive for something like this, just for the sake of “well, I’ll try.”
More weird stuff and research on the border between science and fiction, from brain parts grown to run servers and the prospects for different types of intelligence – community materials tell. Subscribe if this topic interests you.
